A post-mortem conducted this week on the body of a 28-year-old self-employed mechanic who died in Port St Johns last week, concluded that he died of natural causes.
But the distraught family of the victim, Sivuyile Makhaya, is refusing to accept this.
The Daily Dispatch reported last week that Makhaya died after a heavily armed Eastern Cape taxi violence task team conducted a raid on a back street in Port St Johns where the deceased and some of his colleagues were fixing cars.
Several sources, among them a DA councillor, his colleagues and Makhaya’s own family, who corroborated events leading up to his death last week, claimed he had died after being hit by a rubber bullet as the task team had allegedly randomly opened fire.
Makhaya died about 60m from his workplace as he had run across the street towards the Umzimvubu River.
The Daily Dispatch revealed that his death had become the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
When contacted for comment on the matter, Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini was unable to provide further information, saying the investigation into Makhaya’s death was still continuing.
Following an autopsy conducted by a state doctor in Lusikisiki on Tuesday this week, it was concluded that he had died of natural causes.
His family told the Dispatch they had been informed that Sivuyile appeared to have been treated for tuberculosis (TB) and that he had died after a blood clot had swelled inside one of his lungs, causing difficulty in breathing while running.
But the victim’s father, Isaac Makhaya, who himself has been bedridden for several months, said they did not believe he died of natural causes.
“I would have known if he had ever been treated for TB as he lived with us,” he said. “He was never admitted to any hospital for TB.”
Makhaya’s uncle Zamukulungisa Majali said: “Maybe it is because we are rural people that they are ‘taking us for granted’.”
“They could not explain why he had run in the first place and what he was running away from,” he added.
The mother of the victim, Nomthunzi Makhaya, said the family did not have money to give the young man a dignified burial. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Autopsy leaves more questions
But the distraught family of the victim, Sivuyile Makhaya, is refusing to accept this.
The Daily Dispatch reported last week that Makhaya died after a heavily armed Eastern Cape taxi violence task team conducted a raid on a back street in Port St Johns where the deceased and some of his colleagues were fixing cars.
Several sources, among them a DA councillor, his colleagues and Makhaya’s own family, who corroborated events leading up to his death last week, claimed he had died after being hit by a rubber bullet as the task team had allegedly randomly opened fire.
Makhaya died about 60m from his workplace as he had run across the street towards the Umzimvubu River.
The Daily Dispatch revealed that his death had become the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
When contacted for comment on the matter, Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini was unable to provide further information, saying the investigation into Makhaya’s death was still continuing.
Following an autopsy conducted by a state doctor in Lusikisiki on Tuesday this week, it was concluded that he had died of natural causes.
His family told the Dispatch they had been informed that Sivuyile appeared to have been treated for tuberculosis (TB) and that he had died after a blood clot had swelled inside one of his lungs, causing difficulty in breathing while running.
But the victim’s father, Isaac Makhaya, who himself has been bedridden for several months, said they did not believe he died of natural causes.
“I would have known if he had ever been treated for TB as he lived with us,” he said. “He was never admitted to any hospital for TB.”
Makhaya’s uncle Zamukulungisa Majali said: “Maybe it is because we are rural people that they are ‘taking us for granted’.”
“They could not explain why he had run in the first place and what he was running away from,” he added.
The mother of the victim, Nomthunzi Makhaya, said the family did not have money to give the young man a dignified burial. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos